FOXBOROUGH --- With so much speculation surrounding the return of Junior Seau to the Patriots, linebacker Jerod Mayo indicated today that the 40-year-old veteran would likely be a welcomed presence not only in the linebacking corps but in the locker room as well.

"Just as far as being a leader, and a leadership role, he's a great guy,'' said Mayo, who spoke exclusively to the Globe near his locker. "I had the opportunity to play with him last year and he really helped me learn the game.''

Nodding at Mayo, linebacker Gary Guyton chimed, "Whatever he said.''

According to a report by ESPN's Adam Schefter this afternoon, the Patriots will sign Seau next week.

Schefter had reported last Sunday that Seau would be signed by the team this week.

The Patriots reported to the league yesterday that they had had Seau in for a workout recently.

One newspaper report said the workout with Seau took place last Tuesday.

According to an NFL spokesperson, league personnel guidelines stipulate that a team must report a workout to the league office at the conclusion of that workout.

Any tryout or workout held after 4 p.m. that day would show up on the following day's league personnel report. Seau's name was on the report yesterday, so it seems more likely that Seau's official workout was either this Monday or yesterday, and that last Tuesday he may have been in Foxborough for a physical.

Speaking of health, Mayo did not discuss whether he expected to play this week at Denver after returning to practice last Friday in a limited role. Mayo sprained his right medial collateral ligament in the first quarter of the Patriots' season-opening win over Buffalo.